Unit for and method of calculating a sharpened edge

ABSTRACT

An edge enhancement unit ( 100 ) for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in an image on basis of the properties of the original edge. The original edge is represented by a transient ( 112 ) in a signal representing values of pixels of the image. The edge enhancement unit ( 100 ) comprises: an edge determining unit ( 104 ) for determining properties of the transient ( 112 ) on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and a filter unit ( 102 ) for calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the properties of the transient ( 112 ).

The invention relates to an edge enhancement unit for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in an image, the original edge being represented by a transient in a signal representing values of pixels of the image.

The invention further relates to a method of calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in an image, the original edge being represented by a transient in a signal representing values of pixels of the image.

The invention further relates to an image processing apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a signal representing values of pixels of an image; and

an edge enhancement unit for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in the image, the original edge being represented by a transient in the signal.

An embodiment of the unit of the kind described in the opening paragraph is known from chapter 2 of the book “Video Processing for Multimedia Systems”, by G. de Haan, University Press Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 2000, ISBN 90-014015-8. Sharpness enhancement of video signals increases the perceived image quality. Sharpness enhancement means modifications of the transients in the signal representing the values of pixels. Sharpness enhancement, usually a boosting of the higher frequency components, which is called “peaking” results in edges with increased steepness. However a disadvantage of the known sharpness enhancement is that noise in the image is also enhanced. Enhancement of high frequency components in areas where little image detail is present, introduces noisiness. In these areas without edges peaking is undesired.

It is an object of the invention to provide an edge enhancement unit of the kind described in the opening paragraph being arranged to enhance the sharpness of an image signal, while preventing the enhancement of noise.

This object of the invention is achieved in that the edge enhancement unit comprises:

an edge determining unit for determining a first property of the transient on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and

a filter unit for calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the first property of the transient. The sharpness enhancement is dependent on the local sharpness in the image. The edge enhancement unit according to the invention is arranged to detect edges, i.e. luminance or chrominance transients in the signal and to determine properties, i.e. characteristics, of the edges. Values of pixels corresponding to the original edge and pixels in the neighborhood of the original edge are taken into account for that. At least one property is applied for the control of the sharpness enhancement. On basis of this property the optimal filter settings of the filter unit are selected. The advantage of the edge enhancement unit is that the edge enhancement unit is arranged to classify the transients in the signal in:

a first type of transients belonging to edges of objects in the scene being captured; and

a second type of transients caused by noise.

The transients of the first type will be enhanced and the transients of the second type will not be enhanced. The amount of enhancement depends on the actual edge.

In an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the edge determining unit is arranged to determine the first property of the transient being a width of the transient The width of the transient is a good property to characterize the edge. Hence, a good discrimination between real object edges and noise is achieved by this embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention.

In an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the filter unit is arranged to select the second number of pixels around the original edge on basis of the width of the transient. Preferably the filter unit is arranged to select the second number of pixels proportionally with the width of the transient. A variation of the filter length, i.e. the second number of selected pixels, with the width of the transient provides advantages over a filter with a fixed length: If a transient, thus an edge, is relatively wide, peaking with a filter of short length, e.g. a [−1 2 −1]/4 high-pass filter, will only increase the noise superimposed on this relatively wide edge. A wider filter, e.g. [−1 −2 −1 2 4 2 −1 −2 −1]/16 will boost lower frequencies according to the wider edge. Optionally the second number of selected pixels is even flexible for the edge: the length of the filter is varied along the edge, e.g. a short filter at the beginning and end of the transient, gradually applying a longer filter towards the center of the transient.

In an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the filter unit is arranged to determine weighting factors for weighting the second number of pixels around the original edge on basis of the width of the transient. The advantage of this filter is that it allows a flexible adaptation of the filter to the large variety of transients. Optionally the weighting factors are even flexible for the transient: the weighting factors, i.e. the coefficients of the filter, are varied along the transient.

In an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the edge determining unit is arranged to determine the width of the transient by means of:

calculating a derivative signal by subtracting a predetermined threshold from the absolute value function of a first derivative of the signal representing the values of the pixels of the image; and

calculating a distance between a first zero-crossing and a second zero-crossing of the derivative signal.

The width of the transient is determined by measuring the distance between zero crossings in the derivative signal. To reduce sensitivity to noise, a predetermined threshold is subtracted from the absolute derivative signal.

In another embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the edge determining unit is arranged to determine a second property of the transient being a first orientation of the original edge relative to the image and the filter unit is arranged to calculate the sharpened edge having a second orientation, the first orientation and the second orientation substantially mutually equal. The filter unit is applied in the direction perpendicular to the edge because this is the direction where sharpness enhancement has effect. Sharpness enhancement parallel to the edge will only increase noise.

In another embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention, the edge determining unit is arranged to determine a third property of the transient being a height of the transient and the edge enhancement unit is arranged to limit the edge enhancement if the height of the transient is below a first predetermined threshold and the width of the transient is below a second predetermined threshold. The advantage of this embodiment is that transients corresponding to noise are relatively well detected and no enhancement is applied for these transients.

Another embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention comprises a noise reduction unit being controlled by the edge determining unit. If a transient of the second type of transients, i.e. caused by noise, is detected then a noise reduction is applied. It has been mentioned above that sharpness enhancement parallel to the edge will only increase noise. In that direction a noise reduction filter, e.g. a low-pass filter is applied. Preferably the length of the noise reduction filter also depends on the edge: the width of the transient. In other words, the amount of blurring parallel to the edge is proportional to the size of the edge, i.e. the width of the transient.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of the kind described in the opening paragraph to enhance the sharpness of an image signal, while preventing the enhancement of noise.

This object of the invention is achieved in that the method comprises:

determining a first property of the transient on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and

calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the first property of the transient.

It is advantageous to apply an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit according to the invention in an image processing apparatus as described in the opening paragraph. The image processing apparatus may comprise additional components:

a display device for displaying an image comprising the enhanced edge, e.g. a TV-set;

storage means for storage of an image comprising the enhanced edge, e.g. a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) or DVD recorder (Digital Versatile Disk); or

transmission means for providing an image comprising the enhanced edge to a TV-set, e.g. a set-top box.

The image processing apparatus might further support one or more of the following types of image processing:

De-interlacing: Interlacing is the common video broadcast procedure for transmitting the odd or even numbered image lines alternately. De-interlacing attempts to restore the full vertical resolution, i.e. make odd and even lines available simultaneously for each image;

Up-conversion: From a series of original input images a larger series of output images is calculated. Output images are temporally located between two original input images;

Video compression, i.e. encoding or decoding, e.g. according to the MPEG standard or H26L standard. Modifications of edge enhancement unit and variations thereof may correspond to modifications and variations thereof of the image processing apparatus and of the method described.

These and other aspects of the edge enhancement unit, of the method and of the image processing apparatus according to the invention will become apparent from and will be elucidated with respect to the implementations and embodiments described hereinafter and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit;

FIG. 2A schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit comprising a peaking circuit;

FIG. 2B schematically shows the embodiment of the edge enhancement unit of FIG. 2A in more detail;

FIG. 3A schematically shows an image with an edge;

FIG. 3B schematically shows an edge with the vector perpendicular to the edge;

FIG. 4 schematically shows multiplication factors for filters of a peaking circuit of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 5A schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit comprising a noise reduction unit;

FIG. 5B schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit being arranged to perform edge enhancement and noise reduction in opposite directions; and

FIG. 6 schematically shows elements of an image processing apparatus. Same reference numerals are used to denote similar parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit 100 for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge 300 in an image. The original edge 300 is represented by a transient 112 in a signal 110 representing values of pixels of the image. The edge enhancement unit 100 comprises:

an edge determining unit 104 for determining a first property of the transient 112 on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and

a filter unit 102 for calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the first property of the transient. At the input connector 106 a video signal 110 is provided. The edge enhancement unit 100 provides the enhanced video signal, representing enhanced edges at the output connector 108.

The properties of transients in the video signal are determined by calculating the first derivative of the luminance signal in horizontal direction, $\begin{matrix} {{{Y_{h}^{\prime}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} = {\frac{\mathbb{d}}{\mathbb{d}x_{1}}{Y\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}}},} & (1) \end{matrix}$ and vertical direction, $\begin{matrix} {{{Y_{v}^{\prime}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} = {\frac{\mathbb{d}}{\mathbb{d}x_{2}}{Y\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}}},} & (2) \\ {where} & \quad \\ {{Y\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} = {Y\left( {x_{1},x_{2}} \right)}} & (3) \end{matrix}$ is the two dimensional luminance signal. Based on the derivative signals, the horizontal and vertical edge width, i.e. width of the transient in horizontal and vertical direction respectively, are calculated by measuring the distance between zero crossings in the respective derivative signals. To reduce sensitivity to noise, predetermined thresholds are subtracted from the absolute derivative signals. The horizontal edge width h(x) (See FIG. 3B) is the distance between zero crossings of the horizontal derivative signal |Y _(h)′({right arrow over (x)})−Tr ₁,   (4) and the vertical edge width ν({right arrow over (x)}) is the distance between zero crossings of the vertical derivative signal |Y _(ν)′({right arrow over (x)})−Tr ₂,   (5) The edge width perpendicular to the edge is given by: $\begin{matrix} {{{\overset{\rightarrow}{e}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}} = \frac{{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} \cdot {v\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}}{\sqrt{{h^{2}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} + {v^{2}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}}}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

In order to increase robustness of the determining unit 104, the condition for h({right arrow over (x)}) as specified in Equation 7 is preferably used. Preferably a similar condition is also applied for ν({right arrow over (x)})). $\begin{matrix} {{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} = \left\{ \begin{matrix} {{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)},} & {{{Max}\left( {Y^{\prime}\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)} \right)} > {\frac{{Tr}_{3}}{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}\quad{\forall{\overset{\rightarrow}{x} \in \left\lbrack {{\overset{\_}{x} - \frac{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}{2}},{\overset{\_}{x} + \frac{h\left( \overset{\rightarrow}{x} \right)}{2}}} \right\rbrack}}}} \\ {0,} & {otherwise} \end{matrix} \right.} & (7) \end{matrix}$ In Equation 7 is specified that the width of an edge should be inversely proportional to its height, resulting in the discarding of low and narrow edges (probably noise). Optionally the thresholds Tr₁, Tr₂ and Tr₃ in Equations 4,5 and 7 are adapted to the noise level in the image.

FIG. 2A schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit 100 comprising a peaking circuit 102 as filter unit. The working of the peaking circuit is as described in chapter 2 of the book “Video Processing for Multimedia Systems”, by G. de Haan, University Press Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 2000, ISBN 90-014015-8. The output of the peaking circuit, i.e. the enhanced signal, is calculated by means of adding high frequency components to the original signal. The high frequency components are determined by means of the high pass filter unit 200. These high frequency components are weighted by means of the weighting unit 202 before the addition takes place. The addition is performed by an adding unit 204. The edge determining unit 104 is arranged to control the peaking circuit 102. Optionally the weighting unit 202 is controlled, but preferably the high pass filter 200 unit is controlled. This is described in connection with FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2B schematically shows the embodiment of the edge enhancement unit of FIG. 2A in more detail. Especially the filter unit 102 is depicted in more detail. By using edge characteristics as a means for “points of interest” selection, discrimination in the amount of edge enhancement for various parts of the image can be made. The gain of the high frequency boosting is dependent on the presence of edges, e.g. if there are no edges detected, less or no sharpening should be applied. Preferably the modulation of the edge enhancement is done by selecting an appropriate filter, e.g. by setting the coefficients of a convolution kernel. That means that the weighting factors of the pixels of the input image which are used to calculate the output image are selected. An embodiment of the filter unit comprises a number of filter tabs of which the multiplication coefficients can be controlled independently. Another embodiment comprises a number of parallel convolution kernels 202, 204. The results of convolutions between the input signal and these convolution kernels 202, 204 are multiplied by means of multipliers 206, 208 and added by means of adding unit 210. The multiplications are controlled by the edge determining unit 104. See FIG. 4 for an example.

FIG. 3A schematically shows an image with a vertical edge 300. Pixels at the left-hand side of the image, e.g. 304 and 306 have relatively high luminance values and pixels at the right-hand side of the image e.g. 314 and 316 have relatively low luminance values. The values of the pixel 308-312 are mutually increasing and form the edge 300. By means of analyzing the various values of a first number of pixels, e.g. 304-316 around the edge 300 the edge determining unit is able to determine properties of the edge 300. Based on these properties and a second number of pixels, e.g. 306-314, the filter unit is arranged to calculate an enhanced edge. Optionally pixels from other rows of the pixel matrix are used for the analysis and the filtering.

FIG. 3B schematically shows an edge with the vector {right arrow over (e)}({right arrow over (x)}) perpendicular to the edge 300. The edge 300 has a horizontal edge width h({right arrow over (x)}) and a vertical edge width ν({right arrow over (x)}) which can be determined by means of Equation 4 and 5 respectively. Having knowledge over the horizontal and vertical edge width, combined with the gradient of the edge in both directions (white to black or black to white), it is possible to calculate the orientation angle α of the edge. Based on this angle appropriate filtering in the right directions is performed:

edge-enhancement perpendicular to the edge, i.e. in the direction of {right arrow over (e)}({right arrow over (x)}); and optionally

noise reduction parallel to the edge.

See FIGS. 5A and 5B for an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit being arranged to perform both types of filtering.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the values of multiplication factors for filters of a peaking circuit of FIG. 2B as function of a property of edges. The multiplication factors are input for the multipliers 206 and 208. The x-axis represents a property of edges, e.g. the width of edges. The y-axis represents the multiplication factor. With curve 402 the value of a first multiplication factor for a first filter as function of the width of edges is depicted: e.g. for the filter with convolution coefficients [−1 2 −1]. With curve 404 the value of a second multiplication factor for a second filter as function of the width of edges is depicted: e.g. for the filter with convolution coefficients [−1 0 2 0 −1]. With curve 406 the value of a third multiplication factor for a third filter as function of the width of edges is depicted: e.g. for the filter with convolution coefficients [−1 −2 −1 2 4 2 −1 −2 −1]. It can be seen that the curves 402-406 partly are overlapping. That means that for some values of the width of the edges multiple filters are applied.

FIG. 5A schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit 500 comprising a noise reduction unit. The edge enhancement unit 500 comprises both a filter unit 102 for enhancing edges, i.e. boosting high frequency components and a filter unit 502 for reduction of noise, i.e. suppressing high frequency components. The actual filter characteristics of these two filter units 102, 502 depends on the control data of the edge determining unit 104: properties of transients in the signal. The outputs of the filter units 102, 502 are multiplied with multiplication factors and combined. The multiplication factors also depend on the control data of the edge determining unit 104. In fact, the multipliers 504, 505 together with the adding unit 508 form a multiplexer of the signal of which the high frequency components are enhanced and the signal of which the high frequency components are suppressed.

FIG. 5B schematically shows an embodiment of the edge enhancement unit 501 being arranged to perform edge enhancement and noise reduction in opposite directions. The edge enhancement unit comprises an interpolation unit 510 being arranged to rotate a portion of the image which corresponds with an edge on basis of the orientation angle a of the edge being estimated by the edge determining unit 104. Then a boosting of high frequency components is performed in a direction perpendicular to the edge by means of the filter unit 102 and a suppression of high frequency components is performed in a direction parallel to the edge by means of the filter unit 502. After combining the two filter results an inverse rotation is performed by means of the interpolation unit 512.

FIG. 6 schematically shows elements of an image processing apparatus 600, comprising:

a receiving unit 602 for receiving a signal representing images to be displayed after some processing has been performed. The signal may be a broadcast signal received via an antenna or cable but may also be a signal from a storage device like a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) or Digital Versatile Disk (DVD). The signal is provided at the input connector 608. The receiving unit 602 is arranged to be tuned to a predetermined frequency band to extract images from the provided signal.

an edge enhancement unit 604 as described in connection with FIGS. 2A-2C or FIGS. 5A-5B for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in the image, the original edge being represented by a transient in the signal.

a display device 606 for displaying the processed images. This display device 606 is optional.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a suitable programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. 

1. An edge enhancement unit for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in an image, the original edge being represented by a transient in a signal representing values of pixels of the image, the edge enhancement unit comprising: an edge determining unit for determining a first property of the transient (112) on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and a filter unit for calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the first property of the transient.
 2. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the edge determining unit is arranged to determine the first property of the transient being a width of the transient.
 3. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the filter unit is arranged to select the second number of pixels around the original edge on basis of the width of the transient.
 4. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the filter unit is arranged to select the second number of pixels proportionally with the width of the transient.
 5. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the filter unit is arranged to determine weighting factors for weighting the second number of pixels around the original edge on basis of the width of the transient.
 6. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the edge determining unit is arranged to determine the width of the transient by means of: calculating a derivative signal by subtracting a predetermined threshold from the absolute value function of a first derivative of the signal representing the values of the pixels of the image; and calculating a distance between a first zero-crossing and a second zero-crossing of the derivative signal.
 7. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the edge determining unit is arranged to determine a second property of the transient being a first orientation of the original edge relative to the image and that the filter unit is arranged to calculate the sharpened edge having a second orientation, the first orientation and the second orientation substantially mutually equal.
 8. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the edge determining unit is arranged to determine a third property of the transient being a height of the transient and that the edge enhancement unit is arranged to limit the edge enhancement if the height of the transient is below a first predetermined threshold and the width of the transient is below a second predetermined threshold.
 9. An edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in comprising a noise reduction unit being controlled by the edge determining unit.
 10. A method of calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in an image, the original edge being represented by a transient in a signal representing values of pixels of the image, the method comprising: determining a first property of the transient on basis of values of a first number of pixels around the original edge; and calculating the sharpened edge on basis of values of a second number of pixels around the original edge and the first property of the transient.
 11. An image processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal representing values of pixels of an image; and an edge enhancement unit as claimed in claim 1 for calculating a sharpened edge for an original edge in the image, the original edge being represented by a transient in the signal.
 12. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterized in further comprising a display device for displaying the sharpened edge. 